iPhone software update imminent

An Apple VP reveals that an update is coming, but not what it will include. Oh …

At the beginning of last month, rumor of a massive iPhone update circulated among the Apple-watching community. The update was said to include advanced applications and features, such as an iChat-like IM and the ability to cut and paste text. Sadly, July went by without custom ringtones, a Flash plug-in, and maybe a back button. But now it's (almost) August, and this time instead of anonymous nerds on the Internet engaging in wish fulfillment, a six-figure analyst is predicting an update based upon a conversation with an Apple insider. AppleInsider reports on Greg Joswiak, Vice President of iPod Product Marketing at Apple, speaking to analysts for RBC Capital Marketing.

Abramsky then speculates on the software update, which ironically sounds a lot like the list floated on message boards last month plus the more recently-reported new widgets. Unfortunately, a very important feature appears to have been left out, with "no word however on integration to Microsoft Exchange." Currently, Exchange is "supported" through IMAP on the iPhone, if one is feeling charitable on the definition of "support." More recently, Visto was selected to provide "support" for Exchange on the iPhone, but again this does not appear to be a truly integrated solution.

Nonetheless, iPhone users will undoubtedly welcome some of the basic functionality missing in the software at introduction. Certainly, it must be something of an embarrassment when a Treo user can point to an iPhone and laugh.